Press



Oct. 11, 1938.

R. H. HILL PRESS Filed May 29, 1936 I fife/ 22g.

lfatented on. 11, was

' UNITED STATE s PATENT orrlca PRESS Robert a. mu, Elgln, 111., assignorto J. E. Taylor, doing businesses Taylor Engineering Com- Application Ma29, 1930, Serial No. 82,503

This invention relates" to presses and more particularly to presses forcompacting into solid blocks carbon dioxide solidified upon expansion ofliquid carbon dioxide.

of liquid carbon dioxide but in this form it is not suitable for mostcommercial and other usages wherefore this snowlike solid is compactedinto solid blocks, and such solid blocks are often divided into smallerblocks to facilitate handllnx and usage of solidified carbon dioxide.

Heretoiore it has been difllcuit to compact snowlike solidified carbondioxide .into uniform blocks because of, among other things, the

structural characteristics of the chamber whereliquid carbon dioxide isexpanded and to compact the snowlilre solidified carbon dioxide in suchchamber; to prevent escape 01 carbon dioxide gas during expansion ofliquid carbon dioxide; and .to open the chamber to the atmosphere during compacting oi the snowlike solidified carbon dioxide.

Still further objects are to lnsure proper distribution of the appliedpressure duringthe compacting of snowlike solidified carbon dioxide; tofacilitate extraction of the solid blocks produced by compactingsnowlikesolidified carbon dioxide; to open a gas escapement valve upon closureof the chamber in whichliquid carbon dioxide is expanded and to closesuch valve prior to the compacting of the-snowlike solidified carbon.dioxide collected in the chamber when liquid carbon dioxide is expandedtherein; and to provide a novel apparatus of simple and economicalconstruction and eificient and positive operation for collecting andcompacting snowlike solidified carbon dioxide.

A selected embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view;

- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantiallyonthe line 2-2 on Fig. l and showing certain oi" theelements inone of the operative positions thereof; l

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing certain of the elements.in still another operative position;

Fig. .4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line4-4 on Fig. 3; and

Fig.- 5 is a top plan view.

A snowlike solid is produced uponexpanslon (c1. Bit- 121) i In the formof my nova apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawing I provide apair a the tie'plates of square tie plates 6 and I. A sleeve as 8extends between corresponding corners of the tie plates and a belt as 9is passed therethrough whereby nuts as ll may be tightened down onto tothereby securely clamp the tie plates against the ends of the sleeves inAn arrangement such as this is provided at each corner of the tie plateswhereby the tie plates are securely connected together.

A medially located square opening II is provided in the plate 6 and asquare cylinder l2 has the lower end rested on the upper surface of theplate I about the opening ll whereby the opening in the cylinder I2isaligned with he opening II. A head I! rests on the upper en of thecylinder I2 and closes the opening therein. ll is clamped against thecylinder l2 and the cylinder I2 is in turn clamped against the plate 6by tierodsas ll.

A manually operated inlet valve I5 is mounted in the head I! and asupply pipe i6 is connected thereto. An outlet valve I1 is also mountedin the head I! and includes a plunger l8. One end of a lever l9 bears onthe outer free end of the plunger It. The upper end of a push rod isengageable with the other end of the lever is. The push rod 20 is passedthrough aligned'openings 2| and 22 respectively provided in the head Itand tie plate 8 whereby the lower end of said push rod is extended belowthe tie plate 8. A collar 23 on the push rod 20 limits the extentthereof below said tie plate 6, this collar engaging the upper surfaceof the head l3. An outlet pipe 2! leads from the outlet valve H. A linerL is provided for the opening in the cylinder l2 and the opening i i.The inner suriaces of the liner L are tapered in a manner and for apurpose explained more fully hereinafter.

Ahead tie plate I by tie rods 3| extended trolling flow therethrough.

The liner L in' cooperation with the head i3 and with elements explainedmore i'ully'hereinafter provides a chamber C and the valves 15 and i1open into the upper. end of this chamber.

A medially located, cylindrical opening 25 is The head provided in thetie plate I through which a piston 2B is extended. A iollower 21 issecured to the lower end oi'the piston 26 and rides on the walls of acylinder 28, the upper end of which is fitted in a groove 29 in thelower face of the tie plate I in spaced relation with the opening 25.

cylinder cylinder, and the cylinder iscIamped against the between saidhead and-tie plates A supply pipe 32 opens into 39 is provided'in thelower end of the 28 and this head is clamped against the the cylinder 28through the head 30 below the;

follower 21 and-has a valve ".therein for con- Another supply pipe 24also having a. valve (not shown) therein opens into the cylinder 28 nearthe top thereof to admit fluid into the cylinder 28 about the piston 28and above the follower 21, suitable packing generally indicated by 38being provided about the 5 piston 28.1n the opening 28 to preventescapement past the piston of fluid admitted into the chamber 28 abovethe follower 21. Rings 38 .or other packing means are provided on theperiphery of the follower 21 to prevent leakage thereby.

A piston head 31 is provided at the top of the piston 28. This pistonhead 31 is. shaped complementary to the liner L but the faces of thehead 31 are adapted to be spaced from the adjacent faces of the liner Leven when the piston head 31 is moved upinto the chamber C, the taper onsaid liner being such that the chamber is smaller at its upper end thanat its lower end through which the piston head 31 enters said chamber. Asealing head generally indicated by 38 is provided which, in cooperationwith the piston head 31, is adapted to close the lower end of thechamber C. A gasket 38 is mounted onv the upper side of the head 38 andis adapted to engage the lower surface of the tie plate 8 at the marginsof the opening H. A tapered socket 40 is provided in the upper surfaceof the head 38 about the medially located opening 4i therein throughwhich the piston 28 is extended. The lower outer marginal edges of thehead 31, indi- 30 cated by 42, are tapered complementary to the socketand a gasket 43 is provided between the faces of the socket 48 and theadjacent edges 42. This gasket 43, in' cooperation with the gasket 38,provides a gas-tight seal at the 5 lower end of-the'chamber C when thehead 38 is held in clamping relation with the tie plate 8.

Acollar 44 is provided on the piston 28 immediately below the pistonhead 31 and shoulders as 48 are provided on the outer faces of this 40collar 44; Pockets as 48 are provided in the head 38 andlatch dogs as 41are slidably mounted in the pockets- 48. Springs as 48 extend into boresin the latch dogs 41 and engage heads as 48 and these springs force thelatch dogs 41 into 45 engagement with the shoulders 48 whereby the head38 is latched to the piston 28.

Pockets as 88 extend into the head 38 from the lower surface thereofandbufler springs M are mounted in these pockets and extend beyond the,

50 lower face of the head 38. Packing, generally indicated by 82, isprovided-in the opening 4| about the piston 28 to prevent leakage pastthe piston.

w'Asbest illustrated in Fig. 4, foraminated discs 53 and 84 are providedin the lower wall of the head l3, said discs and the valves l8 and l1'being disposed in said head l3 to open into the ehamber C. Theforaminated discs ,83 and 84 close open ends of a passage 88 thatextends transversely across the head I 3. A valve 88 opens into thepassage 88 and a supply pipe 81 leads to this valve from asource offluid under high pressure. A K, v Normally the follower 21 is positionednear ther bottom of the cylinder 28 and the head 38 is latched to thepiston 28 and the buifer springs 8| rest on the upper surface of the tieplate 1, the elements being shown in ,this position in Fig; 1. When,however, the valve 3: is opened' and fluid under high pressure isadmitted into v the cylinder 28 belowthe follower 21, said follower andtherefore'the piston 28 is forced up.-

wardly through the cylinder 28. The pipe 33 p 78 leads to ,a source ofliquid underhigh pressure and the follower 21 and cylinder 28 provideanhydraulic press.

At the initiation. of an operation liquid at --a predetermined pressureis admitted into the cylinder 28 below the follower 21 to cause thefollower 21 and piston 28 to rise, and this liquid is admitted until thehead 38 is in clamping relation with the lower surface of the tie plate8 whereupon admission of further liquid into the cylinder 28 isinterrupted but the predetermined pressure is maintained on the liquidwhich has been admitted into the cylinder. At the end ,of this phase of.the operation the elements are disposed as shown in Fig. 2 and when inthis position the gaskets 28 and 43 afford ages-tight seal at the lowerend of the chamber C.

The lower end of the push rod 28 is normally disposed in the positionshown in Fig. l and therefore Just prior to the time the head 38 attainsthe position shown in Fig. 2 said head engages the push rod .28 which istherefore forced upwardly and acts on the lever l8 to so pivot the leverthat the plunger I8 of the valve I1 is forced downwardly wherefore thevalve I1 is opened.

The pipe l8 leads to a source of liquid carbon dioxide. Thus, when theparts are positioned, as Just described, the valve I 8 is opened andliquid carbon dioxide at proper pressure flows into the chamber C whereit expands. Part of the expanded carbon dioxide solidifies and iscollected in the chamber C. That part of the carbon dioxide which doesnot solidify passes out of the chamber through the open valve l1 as agas and flows through the pipe 24 to suitable gas collecting means. Thevalve I8 is permitted to remain open until a predetermined quantity ofsnowlike solidified carbon dioxide is collected in the chamber C abovethe piston head 31, and when the desired amount of solidified carbondioxide has been collected the valve I8 is closed.

Then the pressure of liquid admitted through the pipe 32 is raised abovethe predetermined pressure which has maintained the head 38 in sealingposition and additional liquid is admitted into the cylinder 28whereupon the follower 21 and piston 28 are forced up into. the chamberC. The springs 48 which maintain the latch dogs 41 in engagement withthe shoulders 48 exert suflicient pressure on the latch dogs to preventdisengagement or the latch dogs from the shoulders 48 by the aforesaidpredetermined pressure. when, however, the liquid pressure is raised andthe follower 21 is forced upwardly to cause the piston head "to rise inthe chamber 0, the pressure exerted by the, springs 48 .is overcomewhereupon the shoulders 48 move from engagement with the latch dogs 41and the head 38 is unlatched from thepiston 28. The head, then descendsinto. its initial position, the buffer springs 8| absorbing the shockincident to the descent of the head 38. Suitable means may be providedto force the head to descend but preferably the weight ofsaid-head is.suiiicient to cause itto descend when it is unlatched from the piston28.

When the head 38 is thus unlatched and descends into its normalposition, as in, Figs. 1 and 3, the push rod 28, being no longer held inraised position by the head 38, also descends into its normal position,as in Fig. l, whereupon the 70 valve I1 is closed by'its spring.

As soonas the head 38 descends, the gasket 38 disengages the lowersurface of the tie'plate 8 and the gasket 43 disengages the edges 42.

- to the atmosphere is afforded past the faces of said head whereby assaid head 31 ascends in the chamber C and presses the snowlikesolidified carbon dioxide into the solid blockagainst the head 13 anygas remaining in the chamber C escapes to the atmosphere past said head31.

Inasmuch as the liner L is so tapered that the chamber C is largeradjacent the head 31 than at the other end thereof, the pressureimpressed by the head 31 on the'carbon dioxide causes the solidifiedcarbon dioxide to be firmly compacted especially at the smaller endthereof adjacent the head I3 and therefore compacting of the snowlikesolidified carbon dioxide into a solid uniform block is insured. v

The taper of the liner L also facilitates removal of the solid blockinto which the snowlike solidified carbon dioxide is compacted by theascent of the head 31 for after the head has been moved into a positionlike that shown in Fig. 3, which results in compacting the solidifiedcarbon dioxide into a solid uniform block, the application of furtherpressure through the pipe 32 into. the cylinder 23 is interrupted andmeans controlling flow through the pipe 33 are opened whereby fluidpressure is applied on the upper side of the follower 21 which thereuponstarts to descend and therefore the head 31 starts to descend. At thistime the valve 56 is opened whereupon fluid at high pressure, such asair or carbon dioxide, is admitted into the passage 55,

and this high pressure fluid passes through the foraminated discs 53 and54 wherefore pressure is applied to the upper side of the block ofcompacted solidified carbon dioxide, and this pressure is sufllcient, incooperation with the taper oi the liner L, to loosen the block from theliner and thereforethe block descends with the head 31 which is returnedto the position shown in Fig. 1.

When the head 31 attains the position shown in Fig. 1 the block ofcompacted solidified carbon dioxide may be removed therefrom between the3 oxide which does not convert into a solid may.

bolts 3. At this time the elements will have been returned to theposltion'shown in Fig. 1 and the above described operation may berepeated.

It will be manifest from the foregoing description that I have provideda press including a chamber wherein carbon dioxide may be expanded tothereby afford a supply 'of snowlike 'Solidified carbon dioxide. Any ofthe carbon dibe withdrawn so as to prevent collection thereof in thechamber in which the expansion is effected. I have so arranged the pressthat the expansion may be carried out in a gas-tight chamber and alsosothat when a desired amount of solidifiedcarbon dioxide has beencollected in thechamber, the chamber may be opened to the atmosphere sothat when pressure is applied to compact the snowlike' solidified carbondioxide into a solid block any gas remaining in the chambermayescapefreely.

I have so shaped the chamber that the compacting pressure will be sodistributed that the snowllke solidified carbon dioxide will becompa'cted into a uniform, solid block and furthermore the shape of thischamber is such that removal of the solid block from the chamber isfacilitated. The taper of the chamber wall need not. be extendedthroughout the extent thereof ply the pressure thereto whereby removalof the block from the chamber is further facilitated.

It will be apparent that I am enabled to ac complish the foregoing byproviding a head and enabling this head to be latched to, the pressureapplying means in such a way that upon the Thus while I' haveillustrated and described a I r preferredform of my invention it is tobe understood that this is capable o'f'variation and modification and Itherefore do not wish to be limited to the precise detailsset forth butdesire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall withinthe scope of the following claims. I

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described, in-

eluding a chamber having a normally open end, means forsupplying avolatile fluid to the chamber for expansion therein to afford anaccumulation of solid in the chamber, movable means for closing thenormally open end of said chamber and for'compressing the solidaccumulated in the chamber into a compact form, and means foroperatingsaid movable means to seal the normally open end of saidchamber during accumulation of the solid in said chamber and tosubsequently' unseal the normally open end of said chamber and compressthe accumulated solid, the unsealing of the normally open end of saidchamber permitting any unsolidifled gas remaining inthe chamber to passtherefrom through the said normally open end of the same during thecompressing of the accumulated solid into compact form. p a

2. Apparatus of the character described, in-

eluding a chamber having a normally open end,

means for supplying a volatile liquid to the chamber for expansiontherein to afford an accumulation of solid in the chamber, movable meansincluding separable parts for closing the normally open end of saidchamber and for compressing the solid accumulated in the chamber Y intoa compact form, and means for operating said movable means to positionsaid parts so as to close the normally open end of said chamber duringaccumulation of solid therein and to subsequently effect separation ofsaid parts so as to unseal the normally open end of said chamber and,compress the accumulated solid, the unsealing of the normally'open endof said chamber permitting any unsolidified gas remaining in the chamberto pass' therefrom through the said normally open end of the same duringthe compressing of the accumulated solid into compact form.

' 3. Apparatus of the character described, including-a chamber having anormally open end, means for supplying a volatile fluid to the chamberfor expansion therein to afford an accumulation of solid in the chamber,movable means including separableparts for closing the normally open endof said chamber and for compressing the solid accumulated in the chamberinto a compact form, means for latching the separable parts of saidmovable means together, and means for moving the latched separable partsas a unit into position to close the normally open end of said chamberduring the accumulation of the solid therein and to subsequently moveone of said parts relative to the other whereby the latching means isreleased and said parts are separated to thereby unseal the normallyopen end of said chamber and compress the accumulated ber for expansiontherein to afford an accumulation of solid in the chamber, movable meansincluding separable parts for closing the normally open end of saidchamber and. for compressing the solid accumulated in the chamber into acompact form, and pressure operated means for moving the separable partsof said movable means, said pressure operated means moving saidseparable parts as a unit upon the application of a predeterminedpressure into position to close the normally open end of said chamberduring the accumulation of solid therein, said .pressure operated meansmoving one of said parts relative to theother upon the application of apressure higher than the predetermined pressure to thereby unseal thenormally open end of said chamber' and compress the accumulated solid,the unsealing of the normally open end of said chamber permitting anyunsolidifled gas remaining in the chamber to pass therefrom through saidnormally open end during the compressing of the accumulated solid intocompact form. n

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a chamberhaving a closed end and a normally open end, means for supplying avolatile fluid to the chamber for expansion therein to afford anaccumulation of solid in the chamber, and a piston movable through saidchamber from the normally open end thereof toward the closed end of thesame to compress the solid accumulated in the chamber at the closed endthereof, said chamber being larger in diameter at the normally openerir'i, thereof than at the closed end of the same the compressed solidmay be withdrawn from the said chamber,

by way of the said larger end thereof after the operation of compressingthesame.

6. Apparatus of the character described, including a chamber having aclosed end and a normally open end, said chamber having the wall thereoftapered whereby the chamber is smaller at the closed end than at theopen end thereof, means for supplying a volatile fluid to the chamberfor expansion therein to afford an accumulation .of solid in thechamber, and a piston movable through said chamber fromthe normally openend thereof toward the closed end ofthe sameto compress the solidaccumulated .in the chamber at the smaller end thereof, said pistonbeing spaced from the wall of said'chamber to permit escape ofunsolidifled gas remainopen end thereof, means for supplying a. volatilefluid to the chamber for expansion therein to afford an accumulation ofsolid in the chamber, a piston movable through said chamber from thenormally open end thereof toward the closed end of the same to compressthe solid accumulated in the chamber at the smaller end thereof, saidpiston being spaced from the wall of said chamber to permit escape ofunsolidifled gas remaining in said chamber during the compressing of theaccumulated solid, closing means co: operating with the piston to closethe normally open end of said chamber during the accumulation of thesolid in the chamber, and meanszfor releasably latching the closingmeans to the piston, said latching means releasing said closing meansfrom the piston upon movement of the piston toward the closed end ofsaid chamber to thereby unseal the normally open end of said chamberduring the compressing of the accumulated solid.

8. Apparatus of the character described, in cluding a chamber having anormally open end, means for supplying avolatile fluid to the chamherfor expansion therein to afford an accumulation of solid in the chamber,normally closed valve means through which unsolidified gas may pass fromsaid chamber, movable means for closing the normally open end of saidchamber and for compressing the solid accumulated in the chamber into acompact form, means for operating said movable means to close thenormally open end of said chamber during accumulation of the'solid insaid chamber and to subsequently unseal the normally open end of saidchamber and compress the accumulated solid, the unsealing of thenormally open end of said chamber permitting any unsolidified gasremaining in the chamber to pass therefrom through said normally openend during the compressing simulated solid -rand means controlled by sai.;movable means 1 r; openihg said valve during" the accumulation lof thesolid in said chamber, the means controlled by said movable meanspermitting said valve to close upon the unsealing of the normally openend of said chamber.

9. Apparatus of the character described, in-

eluding a chamber, means for supplying a volatile fluid to said chamberfor expansion therein to afford an accumulation of solid in the chamber,

means for compressing the solid accumulated in the chamber at ,one endof said chamber, and

means at said end of said chamber connected to a source of fluid underpressure and through which pressure may be applied on the compressedsolid in said chamber to effect removal of .the compressed solid fromthe said chamber.

10. Apparatus of the character described, in-' cluding a chamber, saidchamber being smaller at one end then at the other end thereof, meansfor. supplying a volatile fluid to the chamber for expansion therein toafford an accumulation of solid in the chamber, means for compressingthe accumulated solid at the smaller end of the chamber, and means atthe smaller end of the chamber connected to a source of fluid underpressure and through which pressure may be applied on the compressedsolid in said chamber to efiect removal of the compressed solid from thelarger end of said chamber.

RoBnn'r H. HILL.

